Tinubu: Judiciary Must Have Befitting Homes As New Court Of Appeal Complex Opens In Abuja

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the judiciary, declaring that the rule of law must be supported by modern infrastructure and improved welfare for judicial officers.

Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the commissioning of the Court of Appeal Abuja Division Building Complex in Dakibiyu, Abuja, Tinubu described the facility as a landmark intervention under the Renewed Hope Agenda and a symbol of the government’s determination to restore the dignity of key democratic institutions.

“This is not just a building. This is a statement. A statement that under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the rule of law will have a befitting home,” the President said.

He recalled that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal had operated for years from a cramped and temporary facility, a situation he considered unacceptable for an institution entrusted with delivering justice.

“A nation that seeks justice must respect the temple of justice. When I visited and saw the condition, I gave a simple instruction: fix it. Today, we have fixed it,” he stated.

Tinubu singled out the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, for praise, describing him as “Mr. Project” for delivering the project within the promised timeline.

“When I appointed you as the Minister of the FCT, I knew you would not sleep. You took the assignment to deliver this project in May 2024. By July, contractors were on site. You promised 16 months. You delivered in record time. No excuses. No variation. Just results. Nigerians can see the difference,” he said.

The President noted that the complex, which consists of two large courtrooms, eight smaller courtrooms and modern support facilities, would help speed up the administration of justice, reduce case backlogs and strengthen democratic governance.

“This is how you honour the judiciary. This is how you strengthen democracy,” he said.

According to him, the project aligns with his administration’s commitment to judicial reforms, increased funding for the judiciary and the promotion of a just, rule-based society.

He commended the FCT Administration for taking steps to domesticate the policy by constructing additional court facilities, providing residences for judicial officers, digitising judicial processes and supporting legal education.

“My Lords, you serve this nation under immense pressure. The Abuja Division carries a heavy docket. From election petitions to constitutional matters, the eyes of Nigeria are on you. You deserve an environment that matches the weight of your responsibility. This complex is not a favour. It is your right. And we will do more,” he assured.

Tinubu also applauded Messrs Visible Construction Limited for completing the project, saying the achievement demonstrated the capacity of indigenous firms to execute world-class projects.

“This magnificent edifice shows that local companies have the capacity to deliver high-quality projects on time. This is the Nigeria we are building,” he said.

He urged judicial officers to ensure that justice remains swift, fair and accessible to all citizens.

“To My Lords Justices, as you move into this complex, Nigeria asks one thing of you: let justice be swift. Let it be fair. Let it be blind to status, tribe, or purse. Let the common man feel that this Court is truly his last hope,” he added.

Earlier, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi (SAN), described the commissioning as a historic event for Nigeria’s judiciary and democracy, noting that it coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Court of Appeal.

“Today is historic for the Nigerian judiciary and for our democracy. It is not merely the unveiling of a significant judicial edifice. It is a powerful statement of this administration’s unwavering commitment to the rule of law, judicial independence and the strengthening of institutions that safeguard our constitutional democracy,” he said.

Fagbemi praised President Tinubu for what he called unprecedented support for the judiciary since assuming office.

“As the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, I am particularly delighted to witness yet another milestone in the unprecedented support that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has continued to provide for the judiciary since assuming office.”

According to him, one of the administration’s most significant achievements was the historic review of judicial officers’ welfare packages.

“One of the most significant achievements of this administration was the historic review of the remuneration and welfare package of judicial officers, resulting in an unprecedented increase of well over 300 per cent. This was the first major upward review in decades,” he stated.

The AGF noted that beyond welfare, the Tinubu administration had embarked on one of the most ambitious judicial infrastructure development programmes in Nigeria’s history.

He disclosed that, apart from the Court of Appeal complex, government had completed residences for justices of the Court of Appeal, judges of the Federal High Court and FCT High Court, as well as official residences for heads of courts in the FCT.

“These projects represent special interventions by the Federal Government distinct from judicial statutory budgetary allocations, which have themselves seen significant increases under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

Fagbemi further highlighted efforts to strengthen judicial manpower through the appointment of qualified judicial officers, noting that the Supreme Court now has its full constitutional complement of justices.

“This critical intervention has enhanced the apex court’s capacity, improved its ability to manage its caseload and significantly reduced delays in adjudicating matters of national importance,” he added.

In his remarks, FCT Minister Barr. Nyesom Wike disclosed that the Court of Appeal complex was conceived after concerns were raised about the poor condition of the Abuja Division and the accommodation challenges faced by judicial officers.

“I informed Mr. President that the Court of Appeal needed intervention. He immediately responded that we must not only provide a befitting complex but also provide decent accommodation for judges and justices,” Wike said.

According to him, Tinubu insisted that any project initiated must be completed and not abandoned for future administrations.

“Mr. President told me clearly that anything we start, we must make sure it is completed,” he stated.

Wike revealed that the FCT Administration had already completed residential projects for judicial officers, with handover ceremonies scheduled for various courts.

“Tomorrow, we are going to hand over the one for the Federal High Court, while on July 7, we will hand over the one for the FCT High Court. We are also flagging off housing projects for the National Industrial Court and the Code of Conduct Tribunal,” he said.

The minister stressed that true judicial independence goes beyond constitutional provisions.

“You cannot talk about the independence of the judiciary when the judiciary does not have a fitting environment where they can carry out their functions. If you want judicial independence, you must provide a conducive workplace and decent accommodation,” he said.

Wike also commended the contractor for delivering the project and disclosed that he personally inspected the site more than 20 times to ensure quality standards were maintained.

“I think I have been here not less than 20 times. Two days ago I was here, and yesterday I was here. Whenever I saw anything below standard, I insisted it be corrected,” he said.

He further linked the provision of public infrastructure to citizens’ compliance with tax obligations, particularly payment of ground rents and tenement rates.

“Development means funding. You cannot have development when there is no money. All of us are happy and celebrating today, but have you asked where the money came from? If you have not paid your ground rent, consider that the land will no longer belong to you,” he warned.

President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, described the facility as a transformative investment that would significantly improve the administration of justice.

“The impact of the newly constructed court complex on the administration of justice cannot be overstated. The physical environment in which justice is delivered is a decisive factor that affects the quality, speed and public confidence in judicial outcomes,” she said.

Justice Dongban-Mensem explained that the Abuja Division had long struggled with inadequate infrastructure despite handling one of the heaviest caseloads in the country.

“At present, the Abuja Division operates with only two courtrooms and very limited administrative office space. This lack of infrastructure has continuously slowed down the timely administration of justice,” she stated.

She noted that the court often relied on borrowed facilities from sister courts to conduct proceedings.

“It is necessary to express deep appreciation to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the President of the National Industrial Court, the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court and the President of the Customary Court of Appeal for consistently allowing us to use their courtrooms. Sometimes they even suspended their own sittings to accommodate us,” she said.

Justice Dongban-Mensem added: “I am happy to say that from today, they are relieved of that burden.”

She expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, Vice President Shettima, the National Assembly leadership, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the FCT Minister for making the project a reality.

The Court of Appeal President described the facility as a fitting gift to mark the court’s golden jubilee and expressed optimism that it would enhance efficiency, reduce delays and strengthen public confidence in the justice system.

The commissioning of the Court of Appeal Abuja Division Building Complex formed part of activities marking the third anniversary of the Tinubu administration and the 50th anniversary of the Court of Appeal, highlighting what government officials described as a sustained commitment to judicial reform, institutional strengthening and improved access to justice in Nigeria.

The Minister of State for the FCT expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his visionary leadership and commitment to strengthening the judiciary through strategic infrastructure investments. She also commended Barr. Nyesom Wike for delivering transformative projects across the Federal Capital Territory and thanked members of the judiciary, legislature, media and other stakeholders for their support.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of Visible Construction Limited, Mr. Olalekan Adebiyi, said the project underscored the capacity of indigenous firms to deliver critical national infrastructure. He described the complex as a significant contribution to improving the working environment of judicial officers and commended President Tinubu and Barr. Nyesom Wike for their leadership and support in ensuring the successful completion of the project.

The commissioning of the Court of Appeal Abuja Division Building Complex formed part of activities marking the third anniversary of the Tinubu administration and the golden jubilee of the Court of Appeal, highlighting what officials described as a renewed commitment to judicial reform, institutional strengthening and improved access to justice for Nigerians